Bird Watching Basics for Those New to the Sport

When you first start looking for birds, you may be quickly disappointed by the variety and frequency of the birds you see. However, there are several techniques and tips used by expert bird watchers, and if you follow a few of them you will be able to have a successful bird watching experience.

First of all, you need to be patient. If you aren’t able to stay still for as much as an hour, then perhaps bird watching is not the hobby for you. If you want to find the biggest variety of birds, you will have to stay still for a long period of time and wait for them to come to you. Since birds have fairly regular habits, you will quickly become accustomed to the comings and goings throughout the day, and get a better idea of when you should head out to look for birds.

Bird watchers are always very kind to nature. After all, it is one of the few hobbies that involve the appreciation of nature. When you are walking through the forest, you may not realize exactly how much damage you can do just by walking. If there are any paths, be sure to stick to them. If you must go off the path, be sure to keep on dirt surfaces, and avoid walking over any plants or foliage.

Another important aspect of bird watching is the approaching of the birds. If you are trampling through the woods very raucously, you won’t encounter many birds. They will all be long gone by the time you get anywhere close. So when you are walking on a bird watching expedition, be as stealthy as possible.

Additionally, you will probably want to keep track of your progress as a birdwatcher by recording all of the species that you encounter. Usually this is done by buying a book of the different species of birds, and keeping tally marks on each of the pages every time you see a certain type of bird.

There is no specific guideline for bird watchers. Your own techniques will vary based on your personality, and you will change your habits as you grow as a bird watcher. Just get started with the basic rules of bird watching, and build your own from there.